Canada must stand tall as a beacon of hope in an increasingly tumultuous global landscape, according to Prime Minister Mark Carney's speech at the historic Citadelle in Quebec City. The country's national unity is critical, he said, as it faces mounting domestic challenges and a dramatic reshaping of the world political order.
Carney's address was narrower in scope than his remarks earlier this week at the World Economic Summit in Davos, Switzerland, where he lamented the disintegration of rules-based order amid a rise of "great powers" that use economic coercion as a weapon. However, his Thursday speech laid out a defense of Canadian values and his vision for where the country fits into a rapidly changing world.
In a jab at US President Donald Trump, who had previously suggested Canada was insufficiently "grateful" for its economy, which he attributed to American generosity, Carney said: "Canada lives because of the United States. But this is not a zero-sum game." He emphasized that Canada thrives as a distinct nation with its own identity and values.
Carney's remarks also acknowledged Canada's complex history, defined by a slow but imperfect journey towards cooperation and partnership among its diverse groups. The country has not always lived up to its ideals, including the sustained dispossession of Indigenous peoples and the violation of treaties, which persist into the present.
The Prime Minister pledged to move "fairly and fast" to speed up major infrastructure projects and tackle the sustained cost-of-living crisis plaguing the country. However, he also faces the prospect of two sovereignty referendums in Alberta and Quebec, which could further test his government's resolve.
In a more lighthearted moment, Carney met with the giant novelty snowman Bonhomme Carnaval, the ambassador of the city's winter carnival. Despite international approval for his blunt assessment of the "rupture" in the geopolitical order, Carney has faced pushback from opposition Conservatives, who say his recent trade missions have produced little concrete investment and distracted him from domestic challenges.
Ultimately, Carney's message was one of Canadian resilience and determination. As he said: "When we are united, unity grows. When we are Canadian – inclusive, fair, ambitious – Canada grows." The country must stand tall as a beacon of hope in an increasingly complex world, and its leaders must work tirelessly to ensure that this vision becomes a reality.
Carney's address was narrower in scope than his remarks earlier this week at the World Economic Summit in Davos, Switzerland, where he lamented the disintegration of rules-based order amid a rise of "great powers" that use economic coercion as a weapon. However, his Thursday speech laid out a defense of Canadian values and his vision for where the country fits into a rapidly changing world.
In a jab at US President Donald Trump, who had previously suggested Canada was insufficiently "grateful" for its economy, which he attributed to American generosity, Carney said: "Canada lives because of the United States. But this is not a zero-sum game." He emphasized that Canada thrives as a distinct nation with its own identity and values.
Carney's remarks also acknowledged Canada's complex history, defined by a slow but imperfect journey towards cooperation and partnership among its diverse groups. The country has not always lived up to its ideals, including the sustained dispossession of Indigenous peoples and the violation of treaties, which persist into the present.
The Prime Minister pledged to move "fairly and fast" to speed up major infrastructure projects and tackle the sustained cost-of-living crisis plaguing the country. However, he also faces the prospect of two sovereignty referendums in Alberta and Quebec, which could further test his government's resolve.
In a more lighthearted moment, Carney met with the giant novelty snowman Bonhomme Carnaval, the ambassador of the city's winter carnival. Despite international approval for his blunt assessment of the "rupture" in the geopolitical order, Carney has faced pushback from opposition Conservatives, who say his recent trade missions have produced little concrete investment and distracted him from domestic challenges.
Ultimately, Carney's message was one of Canadian resilience and determination. As he said: "When we are united, unity grows. When we are Canadian – inclusive, fair, ambitious – Canada grows." The country must stand tall as a beacon of hope in an increasingly complex world, and its leaders must work tirelessly to ensure that this vision becomes a reality.
. I mean, what's the real plan here? Just throwing money at infrastructure projects and calling it a day? And what's with the sovereignty referendums in Alberta and Quebec? is this really the best use of taxpayer dollars? 
canada lives because of the us, but they're more than just a thankless economy lol. they need to get their own stuff together ASAP though. 2 sovereignty referendums in alberta & quebec? that's just gonna be a whole lotta drama 
and can we talk about bonhomme carnaval tho? he's literally the coolest 
. I mean, have you ever tried making pancakes from scratch using pure Canadian maple syrup? It's an experience, let me tell you 
. And speaking of Canada, I've been thinking we should start a Canadian-themed food tour online where we feature all these hidden gems across the country 
. What do you think, should we make it happen? 
! Canada's got some serious stuff on its plate right now, but I think it's awesome he's keepin' it real about the country's values and history. We all know it's not perfect, but that's what makes us strong, you know? 
I'm feelin' his message about unity and inclusivity – we need more of that in this crazy world! 
And let's be real, who wouldn't want to meet a giant novelty snowman 
? Carney seems like he's on the right track, but it's gonna be tough to navigate those sovereignty referendums. Still, I'm excited to see what the future holds for Canada – maybe we'll become that beacon of hope everyone's talkin' about 
!
. And what's with the jab at Trump? Trying to score points with a tweetstorm instead of actually addressing the problems? 
. Like, come on, if Canada lives because of the States, shouldn't we get some recognition or gratitude? But nope, Trump just throws shade and expects everything to be cool 
. Meanwhile, Carney's all about showcasing Canadian values and identity 
. And what about those sovereignty referendums? That's gonna be a mess 
. I just hope Carney's vision for Canada becomes a reality, 'cause we need some real leadership right now 
.
it's so important they stick to their values & don't let anyone bring them down. And btw, who was the dude thinking telling Trudeau that Canada owes US that much? 
the fact that Carney called it out and still managed to sound calm is goals 
gotta give him props for that! 
right now, ya know? With all these changes happening globally, it's easy for countries to get divided or lose their identity. But Carney's speech was all about keeping Canada unique and working towards a common goal – that's kinda like when our class team tries to work together to win the school games 
. And just like how we gotta learn from our past mistakes, Canada needs to acknowledge its history and work towards making it better for everyone, including Indigenous peoples. It's not gonna be easy, but if they can keep moving forward and supporting each other, they'll be like a strong team that can take on anything 
.
i think it's cool that carney acknowledged their complicated history with indigenous peoples, but also emphasized canada's progress towards inclusivity and fairness... maybe they can learn from other countries like australia or new zealand which have done a better job in reconciliation? 
anyway, it's awesome that carney is focusing on infrastructure projects to tackle the cost-of-living crisis - those are super important for everyday Canadians 
. They need to work together with other countries, especially the US, to create a more equitable system that benefits everyone 
. And yeah, let's be real, it's not like the US is going to suddenly start being super diplomatic and helpful 
. That comment about Canada living because of US generosity but not being a zero-sum game was fire 
#RespectCanada. And let's be real, our complex history can't be ignored or glossed over 
. I mean, let's be real, we've got a rich history and complex relationships with Indigenous peoples that we need to grapple with, but it's not all doom and gloom 
.
.
We just need to work together and be our awesome selves 
anyway, gotta give credit to Bonhomme Carnaval, who's definitely the real hero here 
.
I mean, who wouldn't want to live in a country that's been known to be polite to the point of being boring? 
Like, Canadian politeness is so strong it could knock down a wall (but not because they're trying to be aggressive, just because they don't wanna ruffle any feathers). 
. I mean, we all know our country isn't perfect – our history is pretty checkered, to say the least – but we're working on it, you know? We've got some serious growth plans for infrastructure and tackling that cost-of-living crisis 
.
and those sovereignty referendums could get messy.
it's interesting 'cause on one hand you got this idea of canada being a beacon of hope in the world 
like treaties and indigenous peoples stuff